The Urban Astronomer

A big telescope reveals the beauty and majesty of the universe. It's truly astonishing what you can see when the conditions are just right and you have a powerful telescope at your fingertips. But which telescope is the best for doing this, or if you...

The Southern Sky
For us 'northerners' who live north of the equator, traveling south of the equator means that you see the heavens from a very different point of view. I spent four nights under those skies two months ago and found it very challenging to adapt to the...

Southern Sky & Milky Way
For many years, my astronomy dream has been to spend time in a dark location with excellent viewing and reliable weather, a location close to a comfortable room to sleep in and yet fully dark and respectful of the needs of astronomers. And finally, somewhere...

Earlier this year, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory came online and has been delivering amazing astronomy. The observatory incorporates the largest digital camera ever built, and is conducting the most comprehensive sky survey ever.
The observatory, in the Atacama desert of Chile, is superlative in every sense. I recorded a podcast about Vera C. Rubin Observatory for the Translunar Podcast series and describe in detail what makes this place so extraordinary....